The recent trip of South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshal to Maryland, a state in the United States, is to explore new investment and growth opportunities for South Australia’s growing cyber sector.
According a recent press release, the Premier shared that they should be prepared to protect their state while cyber threats continue to escalate globally.
Boosting the cybersecurity capabilities
Moreover, he believes they need to look at the business opportunity that this growing global cyber sector offers.
There is a critical requirement for cyber-trained workers for major defence projects, as well as the economy more broadly.
It is important companies in the defence supply chain are armed with cyber-ready capabilities.
Naturally, the key to advancing South Australia’s cyber industry and capabilities is building a trained and skilled workforce.
The Premier’s visit is the perfect opportunity to explore collaboration opportunities across research, education and training as South Australia looks to build cyber capabilities.
Why Maryland?
Maryland is a globally recognised leader for cyber security, with some of the most skilled and experienced professionals in the industry. It is a trailblazer in cyber security.
The State could unlock its future potential as a hub of cyber security by looking to this well-known cyber ecosystem and exploring opportunities for growth and collaboration.
The Premier explained that their focus is to position South Australia as a global leader in the cyber security industry.
Doing so will not only protect the most important assets and defence projects from cyberattacks, but also create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth for the state.
Taking insights from international best-practices and working collaboratively with international partners will strengthen the expertise and skills to be globally competitive in the cyber security industry.
The trip includes visits to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Centre for Cybersecurity, the National Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (NCCoE), and the cybersecurity training and simulation centre Maryland Range.
Increasing apprenticeship and traineeships
In other news, changes to perceptions surrounding apprenticeships and vocational education pathways will be the focus of a new State Government advertising campaign launched recently.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said that the A$ 1.6 million investment in the ‘Skilled Careers – Your Passion’ advertising campaign is vital to promote the benefits of commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship, and to restore the prestige and value of a skilled career pathway.
The campaign is a vital part of the A$ 203 million Skilling South Australia program, which is reversing the dramatic decline in apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia under Labor by creating an additional 20,800 apprentices and trainees over four years.
Why do this?
Only by understanding the opportunities that skills careers offer will we increase genuine interest in apprenticeships and traineeships.
This marketing campaign will help to broaden community understanding about the opportunities available through skills training pathways.
Of the predicted top 50 occupation with the most growth over the coming years, the vast majority will need technical skills.
